By year end, we hope to enter the top 5 and go as high as possible, says Chirag

The crack Indian pair wants to go deep into tournaments, cut down their schedule to manage workload

- Sandip Sikdar

NEW DELHI: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are in a good space right now, mentally and physically.

A World Championships bronze in August backed by successive finals at Hong Kong Open and China Masters this month ~ their first title clashes in 16 months — has put them at ease.

Physically too they were able to push their bodies, playing in the business end of three tournaments in four weeks without a niggle or injury, after fitness issues had plagued them for more thana year.

“After the Olympics, I had many injuries. Ihave a shoulder problem which has been there for the past 6-7 years. It is a recurring issue. I have to manage it. Also, many a time I would have sudden pain (in other parts of the body). I wasn't in a position to play. There were a few niggles too,” Rankireddy, 25, told HT.

Rankireddy’s injuries meant that the ace Indian combine played only one tournament in the last five months of 2024 — China Masters. Not 100%, the world No.6 pair played a couple of tournaments in January before Rankireddy lost his father. It put the brakes on their comeback for a month.

When they returned, it was Shetty's turn to endure pain as the 28-year-old was hit with spasmodic back pain. “I have had back issues for a very long time. But at the All England it recurred and was quite bad. It started in the first round itself. But I played and finished the match, then tried again the next day, but I just wasn't able to bend,” Shetty, whose problem forced the pair to retire from the second round at All England, told HT.